Water Pollution: Causes And Solutions To Water Solution

1111 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: An essay about water scarcity

Water is a precious natural resource which is essential for the survival of all living things; however, fresh water is becoming finite at an increasingly fast rate. Water is vital for the economic and social growth of a country; to generate energy, maintain health and grow food. However, a rising population, combined with the effects of climate change puts a strain on water availability. The United Nations Development (2006) states that around 700 million people suffer from water scarcity in 43 different countries and these numbers are predicted to rise to 1.8 billion people by the year 2025. Water shortage is a concerning issue and it could be argued that the effects could prove detrimental as the threat continues to rise. As well as the causes
Climate change poses a large environmental threat and contributes to water shortage globally. Climate change refers to an increase in the Earth’s average surface temperature. This increase in temperature has been linked to the combustion of fossil fuels to generate electricity which releases large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming. Evidence from the IPCC shows that carbon dioxide levels rising over the last 150 years from 280 to 400 parts per million is directly proportional to climate increase over the past 50 years (Oreskes et al 2004, page 1686). Consequently, climate change has a great effect on the environment. Firstly, it results in seasonal changes, changes in rainfall patterns and an increase in sea level due to the melting of polar ice caps.
Firstly ‘fracking’ is carried out by injecting wells in the rock with a mixture of water, sand and chemicals to break it open to extract the fuel from it. The Food and Water Watch states that fracking one shale well requires millions of gallons of water, causing problems of water availability to arise, particularly in areas prone to water shortage. (9) Shale gas combustion releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere contributing to climate change which is also a major contributor to water scarcity. In addition, the shale gas released contributes to smog formation which is harmful to health and the environment, therefore alternative low carbon or renewable resources would be more suitable in helping to reduce water scarcity as well as air pollution. Secondly, fracking results in water pollution, which affects the quality and quantity of water. An article by the Scottish Government (2014) states 25-75% of the fracking fluid returns to the surface as waste-water. This wastewater combines with salty water containing contaminants, forming a mixture of toxic and radioactive substances which could put people at risk of sickness, if this leaked into drinking water. It also reduces the amount of fresh water available for essential daily needs. In conclusion, fracking contributes to water shortage globally as it uses up such a large quantity of water

Show More
Related

  • The Pros and Cons of Fracking

    1351 Words  | 3 Pages

    The efficiently burning shale gas reduces carbon emission from electricity production plants, reducing carbon footprints on the environment. However, the process of hydraulic fracturing uses millions of gallons of pressurized liquid, which contains toxic chemicals, and some of this water is left over undealt with. The air near fracking sites is often also polluted and unsafe for nearby community residents. Injecting millions of gallons of water laced with toxic chemicals into the rock thousands of feet deep can cause earthquakes, causing a safety hazards for all nearby areas. Hydraulic Fracturing makes rare natural gases easily attainable, boosting the economy and reducing carbon emissions.

    Read More

  • Filling the Void: Hydraulic Fracturing

    1272 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hydraulic fracturing, also commonly referred to as fracking, is a type of drilling for natural gas and oil that started in the 1940’s. In the beginning, when a well was slowing down, dynamite or TNT were placed inside the well head and detonated to help the flow of gas and oil by expanding natural cracks and veins in the earth. This method of fracking was used extensively for almost fifty years in the United States until the easy to mine and profitable oil had been almost completely tapped. A new form of hydraulic fracking was created in the early 90’s to help capture the less available oil and gas pockets remaining in the United States. The current method of fracking begins by drilling a vertical shaft lined with several piping layers and an outer layer of cement up to 10,000 feet deep. After achieving the appropriate vertical length a horizontal shaft is cut off of the vertical shaft that can stretch to lengths up to one mile long. A mixture of sand, water, and chemicals are injected in the shaft fracturing the shale formations and release pockets of oil and natural gas. The water is brought back to the surface where the gas and oil is separated out. The issue many people have with fracking is the possible side effects of chemicals used and water contamination. With the use of fracking helping American’s reach energy independence, economic benefits, and a bridge to help attain a clean energy source; fracking should be expanded in the United States.

    Read More

  • The Ethical Issues Of Fracking

    959 Words  | 2 Pages

    Fracking can cause harm to people, animals, and nature. When they drill into the ground they are pumping chemicals to extract the gas and oil, and this contaminates the water sources around it. “An editorial on gas extraction from the Marcellus Shale in the Post-Star, a newspaper in Glens Falls, New York, contends, “New York state simply can’t take the risk. There are plenty of places to find fuel. It’s not so easy to find a new water supply for 17 million people.”” (Hydrofracking

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Fracking

    1715 Words  | 4 Pages

    Conflicting reports make it difficult to discern just how detrimental the practice is to the environment and people. What is known is that fracking uses phenomenal amounts of water, which is becoming a scarce resource in many parts of the country. There is no doubt that the fluid used in the fracking process contains chemicals, and when released into water supplies, has negative effects on these sources. Injection of flowback materials into deep wells has been definitively linked to increased seismic activity.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay: Should Fracking Be Banned?

    1228 Words  | 3 Pages

    Fracking is a pressurized, chemically treated mixture of water and sand to release and extract natural gas and petroleum from shale rock. There are many articles, studies being done, and organizations fighting for what they think is right. Environmentalist want the technique of fracking banned because it plays a part in global warming, affects our water, and causes human health problems. If fracking cannot be banned because of its necessity then it should be made safe and eco-friendly. The process involves a well being drilled vertically to the desired depth, then turns ninety degrees and continues horizontally for thousands of feet into the shale believed to contain the trapped natural gas. A mix of water, sand, and various chemicals is pumped into the well at high pressure in order to create fissures in the shale through which the gas can escape. Natural gas escapes through the fissures and is drawn back up the well to the surface, where it is processed, refined, and shipped to market. Flowback returns to the surface after the

    Read More

  • How Natural is Natural Gas?

    1454 Words  | 3 Pages

    Natural gas extraction and consumption has risen over the past thirty years. Also known as hydraulic fracturing or fracking, a tremendous amount of uproar is being made in the environmental and political communities. Natural gas use is a great source of energy worldwide, only in America have we had a gold rush affect when it comes to extraction. Natural gas provides less dependence on foreign oil, less need for coal plants, and a more affordable energy source worldwide. There are many advantages to using natural gas but the way in which it is being extracted has caused many people to become sick. The detrimental environmental impacts caused by hydraulic fracturing continue to rise. Not to mention the political pull on big corporations and water quality standards. Currently in the Marcellus shale in Pennsylvania and the Barnett shale in Texas, the air and water quality have diminished over the past years since drilling sites ran rampant. Natural gas is natural in terms of how it came to be, but not natural in how they extract it and the problems it is causing everyone involved. To make aware the dangers of hydraulic fracturing, environmental impacts, water quality and air emissions, must be considered.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Fracking

    1029 Words  | 3 Pages

    Fracking is a highly controversial practice that utilizes the injection of water, chemicals and abrasives to extract relatively inaccessible pockets of natural resources. Although fracking has the potential to benefit the economy, it may also pose a significant impact on the environment, the ecosystem and safety.

    Read More

  • Why Fracking Is Bad

    121 Words  | 1 Pages

    Fracking is a bad idea for the U.S because it may be causing water pollution. When fracking continues to

    Read More

  • Cause And Effect Of Climate Change

    1405 Words  | 3 Pages

    The temperatures rise and the amount of rainfall decreases which disturbs the natural system of the Earth, causing ice caps to melt, sea levels to rise, plants and animal food sources to deplete which in turn affects humans food sources and agriculture, and natural disasters to occur more often. Similarly, climate change seems to have the greatest impact on the oceans and ecosystems along the coast. Many countries center themselves on their water supply; for instance, throughout history, population has always been the densest along rivers and lakes, but mostly along the coasts. People need water to survive, not only for drinking and their homes, but they also use water to import and export goods, and for transportation. “Many areas of the United States, especially the West, currently face water supply issues. The amount of water available in these areas is already limited, and demand will continue to rise as population grows. The West has experienced less rain over the past 50 years, as well as increases in the severity and length of droughts; this has been especially of concern in the Southwest” (“Climate Change Impacts”). Another concern of climate change is the rising of sea levels, which is caused by ice melting or the shifting of the land and the plates. When the sea level rises, it affects not only all of the human activities, but the quality of their water, as well as the plants

    Read More

  • impact of climate change

    757 Words  | 2 Pages

    On the basis of the evidence, it is accepted that climate change is occurring and the climate will change even further due to our fossil fuel based economy, the increasing number of people and their increasing wealth. The increase in greenhouse gases has already started having impacts on the climate, natural ecosystems and human societies. It is clear that the average surface temperatures have increased and it will continue to do as more carbon dioxide gets released into the atmosphere. The recent warming is unprecedented in both magnitude and speed. The projected warming for the 21st century will expect to create severe problems for natural ecosystems and human societies. Water resources are already suffering from increases stresses, and are likely to be reduced. This will inhibit the growth of crops and adversely affect other water uses such as water use for industries and the water supply for the human population. This will lead to more severe food shortages. The glaciers and ice sheets are already retreating, and will retreat more which will lead to changes in the total and annual cycle of river flow in some rivers, threatening water supplies further. Impact on the ecosystems will affect the distribution and productivity of plant and animal species and water supply. A loss of biodiversity is likely to be accelerated by climate change. There will be an increase in extreme weather events such as increases in flood magnitude and frequencies, increases in drought intensity, frequency and duration as evaporation rates will be greater. Higher average temperatures and possibly increased variability are likely to lead to increased frequency and severity of heat waves, causing additional deaths due to heat stress and vector-borne disea...

    Read More

  • Importance Of Climate Change Essay

    1379 Words  | 3 Pages

    Climate change has become of the world’s major issue today. The earth’s climate is always changing in a very fast and also in different ways. Climate changes affect our lives psychologically, emotional and also physically. Climate change is defined as a long term change in the earth’s climate, especially a change due to the increase in the average atmospheric temperatures. Due to this change in temperature, a lot of changes has occurred in our environment, these changes include rising sea levels, flooding, melting of polar ice caps, hotter days, colder nights and heat waves. These climate changes plays an important role in shaping our natural ecosystem, our human economics and also the most important, it affects the human race. For

    Read More

  • The Global Water Crisis

    2639 Words  | 6 Pages

    Freshwater in the world makes up only a small portion of water on the planet. While the percentage of water in the world is nearly 70%, only 2.5% is consumable. Even further, only <1% is easily accessible to basic human needs. According to National Geographic, “by 2025, an estimated 1.8 billion people will live in areas plagued by water scarcity, with two-thirds of the world's population living in water-stressed regions as a result of use, growth, and climate change.” With this current trend, water will become more immersed in environmental, economic, political, and social changes. Many of these in later years shall need to be addressed as tension rises:

    Read More

  • The Water Crisis and Solutions

    1481 Words  | 3 Pages

    Many scientific studies also show increases in the intensity, duration, and extent of droughts, higher atmospheric temperatures, warmer sea surface temperatures, changes in precipitation patterns, and diminishing glaciers and snowpack. The bottom line is that causes of climate change, such as greenhouse gas emissions, will have to be minimized if people want to do as much as possible to solve the water crisis. Works Cited Water demand management: the case of Zaragoza, Spain Web 25 Nov. 2014. http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/swm_cities_zaragoza_2010/pdf/final_report_swm_cities.pdf.

    Read More

  • The Problem of Water Scarcity

    1538 Words  | 4 Pages

    70% of this demand derives from agriculture which shows the influence of water on food supply globally as well as not just drinking water (Sawin “Water Scarcity could overwhelm the Next Generation”). But increasing water use is not just a matter of the greater number of people needing it to drink and eat; it also comes from pollution and misuse of water supplies, by either dumping or runoff of bacteria or chemicals into water. This also “causes other pollutions as well such as soil and air pollution, accelerating wetland damage and human-caused global warming” (Smith and Thomassey 25). According to a UN report, recent estimates suggest that climate change will account for about 20 percent of the increase in global water scarcity in coming decades. One of the main causes of water scarcity is water mismanagement worldwide.

    Read More

  • Water Shortage in India: Problems and Solutions

    985 Words  | 2 Pages

    Water is an integral part of not only human beings but all other creatures in the world. We use it every day for different purposes such as domestic, agricultural and industrial. Water has always been a prestigious resource. However, the majority of people do not appraise water’s worth since they do not face water scarcity; whereas, in third world countries it is one of the most serious problems. Nearly 2.4 billion people have a lack of water resources in the world, shows the investigation done by the Pacific Institute, an Oakland, California-based non-profit scientific research group. Moreover, every year this number is growing gradually and more people are suffering (Bloomberg News, 2010). There are certain causes which deteriorate current situation. The most influential reasons are global warming, pollution by human-beings and overpopulation. It is known that India is one of the countries which face water scarcity so this essay will consider the possible ways of solutions of water shortage in India.

    Read More

More about Water Pollution: Causes And Solutions To Water Solution

Open Document